Under Oath
After claiming that the White House would give Congress "unprecedented" access to information regarding the recent dismissal of U.S. Attorneys, Bush insists that he would not allow Senior Advisor Karl Rove, former White House Counsel Harriet Miers to testify under oath and on the record about the dismissal of the U.S. Attorneys. There is extensive precedent for officials in these positions to appear before Congress.
During the Clinton administration, congressional Republicans routinely insisted that White House officials appear before Congress. During the Clinton administration, a series of White House Counsels testified to congressional committees publicly and under oath:
In 1994, White House Counsel Bernard Nussbaum testified before the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs regarding the "Whitewater" matter and in 1996, he was deposed under oath on two separate days by the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of the White Travel Office investigation. Also, in 1994, White House Counsel Lloyd Cutler testified before the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs regarding the "Whitewater" matter. Later that same year, White House Counsel Jack Quinn was deposed under oath by the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of an investigation into campaign finance activities.
White House Counsel Charles Ruff, testified in 1997, before the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of an investigation into campaign finance activities. Mr. Ruff testified again before the Committee in 2000 as part of an investigation into the White House e-mail system.
In 2000, White House Counsel Beth Nolan testified before the House Committee on Government Reform as part of an investigation into the White House e-mail system, and again Ms. Nolan again before the Committee in 2001 as part of an investigation into President Clinton's pardon decisions.
Numerous White House Chiefs of Staff also have provided Congress with sworn testimony on the record:
In 1997, White House Chief of Staff Thomas F. McLarty was deposed by the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of an investigation into campaign finance activities.
In 1998, White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles was deposed by the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of an investigation into the use of the President's holiday card list.
In 2001, White House Chief of Staff John Podesta testified before the House Committee on Government Reform as part of an investigation into President Clinton's pardon decisions.
Bush is also mistaken in his contention that Congress has not received communications between White House aides. In fact, there is extensive precedent for providing these communications to Congress when they are pertinent to an investigation.
For example: The Clinton White House provided the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight with thousands of pages of White House e-mails, including e-mails between the Vice President and his staff, during the Committee's investigation into the White House e-mail system.
The Clinton White House provided the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee with notes taken by White House counsel reflecting attorney-client communications, during the Committee's investigation into campaign finance activities. The Clinton White House also provided the Committee a memo containing legal advice from the Vice President's counsel to the Vice President.
What does Bush fear?
During the Clinton administration, congressional Republicans routinely insisted that White House officials appear before Congress. During the Clinton administration, a series of White House Counsels testified to congressional committees publicly and under oath:
In 1994, White House Counsel Bernard Nussbaum testified before the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs regarding the "Whitewater" matter and in 1996, he was deposed under oath on two separate days by the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of the White Travel Office investigation. Also, in 1994, White House Counsel Lloyd Cutler testified before the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs regarding the "Whitewater" matter. Later that same year, White House Counsel Jack Quinn was deposed under oath by the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of an investigation into campaign finance activities.
White House Counsel Charles Ruff, testified in 1997, before the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of an investigation into campaign finance activities. Mr. Ruff testified again before the Committee in 2000 as part of an investigation into the White House e-mail system.
In 2000, White House Counsel Beth Nolan testified before the House Committee on Government Reform as part of an investigation into the White House e-mail system, and again Ms. Nolan again before the Committee in 2001 as part of an investigation into President Clinton's pardon decisions.
Numerous White House Chiefs of Staff also have provided Congress with sworn testimony on the record:
In 1997, White House Chief of Staff Thomas F. McLarty was deposed by the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of an investigation into campaign finance activities.
In 1998, White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles was deposed by the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of an investigation into the use of the President's holiday card list.
In 2001, White House Chief of Staff John Podesta testified before the House Committee on Government Reform as part of an investigation into President Clinton's pardon decisions.
Bush is also mistaken in his contention that Congress has not received communications between White House aides. In fact, there is extensive precedent for providing these communications to Congress when they are pertinent to an investigation.
For example: The Clinton White House provided the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight with thousands of pages of White House e-mails, including e-mails between the Vice President and his staff, during the Committee's investigation into the White House e-mail system.
The Clinton White House provided the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee with notes taken by White House counsel reflecting attorney-client communications, during the Committee's investigation into campaign finance activities. The Clinton White House also provided the Committee a memo containing legal advice from the Vice President's counsel to the Vice President.
What does Bush fear?
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